Dubai was selected as the host of Expo 2020 in November 2013, beating out cities in Brazil, Russia, and Turkey. Under the theme "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future," Expo 2020 will sprawl over 1000 acres in what is now empty desert land near the new Al Maktoum International Airport.

Given the unbearably hot climate in the summer months, the world's fair will run from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021. The event plans on attracting 25 million visitors.